One Word
December 30th, 2011 § 17 Comments
And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. – Anais Nin
Every year I pick a word. I can’t remember where I first heard the idea but I liked it, and then I saw … I can’t remember who! Joshilyn Jackson? talk about it and decided that was it, I was doing a Word of the Year. I do this instead of New Year’s Resolutions. I’m not a fan of those at all. They rub me the wrong way. New Year, New You, and all that seems artificial somehow.
So I do a word. I pick a word to be mindful of and tape it to my monitor for the whole year. In 2009 it was Believe. I needed to remember. In 2010, it was Do. (I *did* alright; I wrote three books and got an agent.) In 2011, it was Choose. Well, you can see how that went, too. I stumbled upon the word for 2012 a few weeks ago, mulling it over.
I like to pick words that are action verbs, to keep me in them. I like for it to be something I can do, not just think about. I had wanted to pick fearless, but it’s not a verb, so converting it to one, the word of the year is brave.
In 2012, I thought I wanted to be fearless, but that’s not quite right. There’s no such thing as fearless, really. There’s only being afraid and doing things anyway. Being brave. I want to remember I am brave and I can be brave. That not only can I handle whatever life throws at me, that I can actively wade through it, not just wait for it. It is my hope to be that person, to confront instead of hide, to brave instead of cower. To encourage instead of avoid or ignore. I hope that in being brave, I can inspire others to be. I am learning more to look outside myself, too, and hope for that in the new year as well, that brave will remind me of it, too.
Resolutions are too compartmental, too specific and practical. I prefer a word, an attitude, a way of being. Peace to you and yours, friends.
My word will be pancakes.
Is it cheating that it is a compound word? Do I have to pick pan or cake? I prefer the cake part, to be honest. Also, it is plural, does my word have to be pancake? If so, it would be a pancake of unusual size and I probably need a bigger pan.
I *love* this idea for a Word of the Year. Last year I had eight goals to my name (and even blogged yesterday about how I did in 2011) and while I did okay with eight, I’d rather do fantastic with one. So yes, there is a 99.99% chance I will be stealing this idea for 2012. My word? It took all of a millisecond for it to come to me. And it is…
WRITE.
Love this, Jess! I’ve been doing a Word of the Year for the last few years too. I think this year I’m picking two that go hand in hand: CREATE & CELEBRATE.
I love, love, LOVE this one word idea. I just might have to join you with Brave. Or maybe Focus. (Why must the internet be such a distraction?)
I’ve been doing the Word for the Year thing for years, but I do also do a list of goals for the year. (My 2012 word: Healthy)
I have a feeling 2012 is going to be a strong and fun year for you. Be brave, make smart choices, have fun.
I think Brave is an excellent and perfect timing word for you for 2012.
You know I’m always here for you.
Happy New Year,
Lola
I only do resolutions if I’ll actually make good on them, when they’re small bites. Like the year I resolved to floss more often. Or when I started being good about taking a multivitamin. Boring? Oh, yes. Doable? Of course:)
But that isn’t really what resolutions are about, is it? It’s the chance at reinvention and focus that transcends taking a GummiVite every morning. And I love the concept of a word for that, instead of specifics. Thanks for something to think about!
Here’s where I confess that I DO make ONE resolution every year, and that is to finally start taking my daily multivitamin, and *every year I fail*.
I failed miserably at mutlivite-taking, too–until I started taking the gummy kind. Yes, I have to trick myself with something that looks like candy.
The Anais Nin quote I have up on my bulletin board is “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”
Beautiful quote, Ed, and even more apropos than the one I used. I haven’t seen that one, but I love it. Thanks for sharing. I’m putting it on my fridge!
[...] year I’m doing something different. Jessica Corra blogged the other day about how she picks a Word of the Year instead of making a traditional resolution. She strives to keep that one word in mind throughout [...]
I love this idea! I do resolutions every year because I like lists and I like guidelines (which is funny because when I attempt to write books, I don’t have any — go figure). But if the world doesn’t end in 2012 (harhar) then I think I’ll do word of the year, because I could use a few action verbs to get me in motion!
What a fantastic idea! And it really seems to be working for you. I’m afraid my word of the year would have to be Patience, and I know it’s the right choice because I inwardly groaned as soon as I thought of it. Clearly, this is a mountain that needs climbing in my life.
Thank you for sharing this. I’m inspired.
- Liz
[...] friend Erin Bowman referencing writer Jessica Corra, who blogged about how she picks a Word of the Year instead of making traditional resolutions. She strives to keep that one word in mind throughout [...]
[...] We become what we think we are, even if it’s not true to start with. That’s why my one word is so important to me. It’s a reminder: I am brave. Not, maybe I can be brave. I [...]
[...] my pal Jessica Corra has this thing where she picks one word to focus on for the year. You know, I think this is a marvelous idea. It kind of reminds me of Madeleine L’Engle. [...]
[...] talked about chosing “steady” as her focal word for the year. She got the idea from fellow author, Jessica Corra. If you don’t follow Jessica, I recommend her. She’s intelligent, charming, and good [...]